Cannula anchor

ABSTRACT

Cannula anchor assemblies are disclosed which consist of a threaded cannula and a cannula anchor. The cannula anchor system allows for secure anchoring into the body wall, and proper cannula height adjustment prior to and during surgery. Sutures through the body wall may be secured to the cannula anchor either directly through the cannula anchor, or around suture posts attached therein. The cannula anchor also prevents excessive plunge of a trocar into the patient. The cannula anchor is generally configured with internal threads that mate with a threaded cannula.

PRIORITY STATEMENT UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119 & 37 C.F.R. §1.78

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/605,199 filed Oct. 23, 2009, which claims priority based upon priorU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/107,870 filed Oct. 23,2008 in the name of Michael T. Patton, Richard Mazzolla, Harrith Hasson,and Thane Blinman, entitled “Cannula With Adjustable Anchor,” thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that utilizes asmall tubular camera (laparoscope) to view abdominal and pelvic organs.During laparoscopy, devices called “trocars” are used to puncture theabdominal wall and provide access channels for the camera and thinlaparoscopic surgical instruments. Since smaller incisions are madeduring these procedures, there is less patient trauma and reducedhospitalization. As a result, laparoscopy continues to grow inpopularity.

A trocar assembly generally includes two major components, an obturatorand a cannula. The obturator typically includes an elongate body havinga sharpened distal tip. The sharp distal tip pierces and cuts the tissueforming the body wall. The cannula generally has a cylindricalconfiguration and a seal-valve housing. As the trocar is pushed orotherwise moved through the body wall, the sharp distal tip of theobturator functions to cut the tissue and provide an opening for thetrocar. Once the trocar is operatively positioned, the obturator can beremoved leaving the cannula to provide working access into the bodycavity. For example, a laparoscope may be inserted through the cannulato view the body cavity or surgical instruments may be inserted throughthe cannula to perform ligations or other procedures.

The use of cannulas in laparoscopic surgery is well known. Once initialaccess to the abdominal cavity is attained, it is filled with carbondioxide gas to allow for optimal viewing with the laparoscope and roomfor instrument manipulation. The cannula, which maintains the incisionopen to receive surgical instruments, must have a sealing mechanism thatprevents or limits the escape of the gas when instruments of variousdiameters are inside. A valve mechanism prevents the escape of gas wheninstruments are removed from the cannula.

During the surgical procedure, it is desirable to secure or anchor thecannula position inside the incision (e.g., fascia) or in the skin toprevent movement of the cannula relative to the abdominal wall, and toprevent the cannula from slipping out of the incision, causing loss ofinsufflation pressure from the abdominal cavity. The present inventionprovides a novel cannula anchor assembly that overcomes deficienciescurrently known in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved cannula and, morespecifically, a cannula anchor system with cannula threads incombination with an internally threaded cannula anchor for use in a widevariety of surgical procedures and is intended to easily securelaparoscopic cannulas in the body wall to prevent accidental cannulaslippage. It is generally directed towards a cannula that prevents asurgeon from having to re-insert the cannula one or more times duringthe surgical procedure. While the cannula anchor system of the presentinvention is described herein for use with a surgical trocar, it is alsowell suited for a variety of other uses in which one apparatus isinserted and removed through an opening.

In one embodiment, the cannula anchor system consists of a threadedcannula and a single cannula anchor. The cannula anchor has internalthreads, and its position on the cannula may be adjusted by rotating thecannula clockwise or counterclockwise. A suture can be threaded throughthe cannula anchor directly into body tissue to secure the cannulaanchor system into place.

In an alternative embodiment, the cannula anchor can be constructed outof multiple materials to maximize its ability to be threaded up anddown, and to be secured to the body tissue.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly certain aspects of the presentinvention in order that the detailed description of the invention thatfollows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages ofthe invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject ofthe claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilledin the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may bereadily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structuresor processes for carrying out the same purposes of the presentinvention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art thatsuch equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the system and method of the present inventionmay be had by reference to the drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a cannula anchorsystem, illustrating a threaded cannula with a cannula anchor attached;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the cannula anchorsystem;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the cannula anchor system;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cannulaanchor system;

FIG. 5A illustrates one embodiment of the cannula anchor system with thecannula anchor on the proximal portion of the cannula;

FIG. 5B illustrates one embodiment of the cannula anchor system with thecannula anchor on the distal portion of the cannula.

FIG. 6 illustrates three views of one embodiment of the cannula anchor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is an improved cannula anchor system to secure acannula in the body wall during laparoscopic surgery. It should beappreciated that the present invention is equally applicable to anyappropriate surgical procedure. References to surgical procedures andother terms used herein may be applicable to medical and veterinarysurgery as well as other non-medical applications.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein likereference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a cannula 101 in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of the present invention. The cannula 101 iscomprised of a cannula body 102, which houses the seal and valve,threaded cannula 103, and cannula cap 104. A cannula anchor 105 is shownassembled on the cannula threads 103. The height of the cannula 101 canbe adjusted by rotating the cannula 101 clockwise and counterclockwise,while holding the cannula anchor 105 steady. The cannula threads 103mate with the internal threads on the cannula anchor 105. The threadscan be constructed in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner. Thecannula anchor 105 may be secured into the body wall by suturingdirectly through the cannula anchor into the body wall. Alternatively,cannula anchor 105 may be constructed with one or more windows wheresutures may be tied off. The cannula anchor 101 may be made of a varietyof materials, including polymers, plastics, and metal. The cannulaanchor 101 can also be used as a barrier to prevent excessive plunge ofthe trocar into the body cavity during insertion, or during instrumentinsertion through the cannula throughout the procedure.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a cannula anchor system, illustratinga cannula 106 in combination with a cannula anchor 110. In thisembodiment, cannula 106 is comprised of cannula body 107, cannulathreads 108, and cannula cap 109.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cannula anchor systemillustrated in FIG. 3. Cannula anchor 110 is shown comprised of twocomponents, threaded cannula insert 111 and suture cone 112. In thisembodiment, the height of the cannula 106 can be adjusted by rotatingthe cannula 106 clockwise and counterclockwise, while holding thecannula anchor 110 steady. This embodiment provides the means to wrapsuture around suture posts, as opposed to suturing directly through thecannula anchor material, when securing the cannula anchor system to thebody.

FIG. 5A shows the cannula anchor 105 in a proximal position on thecannula 101. This position allows more of the cannula 101 to extend intothe body. If less room is required inside the body cavity, cannula 101can be rotated counterclockwise, thus moving the cannula anchor 105 to amore distal position on the cannula 101.

FIG. 6 illustrates three views of the cannula anchor 105. The cannulaanchor internal threads 113 are illustrated in the isometric view.Finger grips 114 may be added to the cannula anchor to provide thesurgeon more leverage when adjusting the height of the cannula.

While the present system and method has been disclosed according to thereferred embodiment of the invention, those of ordinary skill in the artwill understand that other embodiments have also been enabled. Eventhough the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments,it is understood that other configurations are contemplated. Inparticular, even though the expressions “in one embodiment” or “inanother embodiment” are used herein, these phrases are meant togenerally reference embodiment possibilities and are not intended tolimit the invention to those particular embodiment configurations. Theseterms may reference the same or different embodiments, and unlessindicated otherwise, are combinable into aggregate embodiments. Theterms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more” unless expressly specifiedotherwise. The term “connected” means “communicatively connected” unlessotherwise defined.

When a single embodiment is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one embodiment may be used in place of a singleembodiment. Similarly, where more than one embodiment is describedherein, it will be readily apparent that a single embodiment may besubstituted for that one device.

In light of the wide variety of possible seals available, the detailedembodiments are intended to be illustrative only and should not be takenas limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, what is claimed as theinvention is all such modifications as may come within the spirit andscope of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

None of the description in this specification should be read as implyingthat any particular element, step or function is an essential elementwhich must be included in the claim scope. The scope of the patentedsubject matter is defined only by the allowed claims and theirequivalents. Unless explicitly recited, other aspects of the presentinvention as described in this specification do not limit the scope ofthe claims

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of affixing a cannula to an abdominalwall comprising: inserting an externally threaded cannula into anabdominal cavity of a patient during a laparoscopic surgical procedure,wherein internal threads of an anchor positioned around the cannulaalign with external threads of the cannula; adjusting the anchor to abutthe outside wall of the patient's abdomen by rotating the anchorrelative to the cannula; securing the anchor to the outside of thepatient's abdominal wall by passing sutures through an opening in theanchor and through a portion of the abdominal wall.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the distance between the anchor and the outside wall ofthe patient's abdomen is adjustable after the anchor has been secured tothe outside of the patient's abdominal wall by rotating the anchorrelative to the cannula.
 3. The method of claim 1, further includingpassing sutures through the opening in the anchor during the surgicalprocedure to close the opening in the abdominal cavity.
 4. A method ofaffixing a suture cone to an abdominal wall comprising: inserting anexternally threaded cannula into an abdominal cavity of a patient duringa laparoscopic surgical procedure, wherein an anchor is disposed aroundthe cannula, the anchor having internal threads that align with externalthreads of the cannula, and wherein a suture cone is disposed around thecannula, the suture cone having one or more suture posts around whichsutures may be wrapped during the surgical procedure; adjusting theanchor to abut the outside wall of the patient's abdomen by rotating theanchor relative to the cannula; securing the suture cone, but not theanchor, to the outside wall of the patient's abdomen by passing suturesthrough an opening in the anchor and through a portion of the abdominalwall.